Amirah and Will return to share a little about farming at Stony Point Center over the past few weeks including cover crops, mowing, and planting.  Then they dive into a conversation about their most memorable "multifaith moments" in the Community of Living Traditions. From Quaker Meeting for Worship to Purim to Ramadan (and more), Amirah and Will share insights and laughs about where they learned or gained an appreciation for other faith traditions (or their own) in multifaith spaces.

Episode 37: Multifaith Moments

Amirah and Will finally return to share some reflections about life, faith practices, and farming during the pandemic. Their conversation includes thoughts thriftiness, holy observances, and music while sheltering in place. The theme for this episode was inspired by the Community of Living Traditions Zoom Series "Living into the New Normal" which happens on Wednesdays at 5pm Eastern time. Click here to check for listings and registration: https://stonypointcenter.org/your-visit/upcoming-events. And, for Spotify users, here's how you can listen to the playlist Will gave Amirah for her birthday: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7b8j9p8ml0USqsTdvYkNXa?si=cSgaFaXxSuuuryTQjjvO9g

Episode 36: Safe. Healthy. Thrifty. Grateful.

Amirah and Will are back to kick off the 2020 farming season with a conversation about birds. After several recent bird encounters, and, in honor of Will's second child who was named after a bird, they reflect on sharing space with our feathered friends. Referenced in this episode: "Acknowledging the Winter Solstice Is a Decolonial Act for Indigenous People" by Sarah Sunshine Manning (https://ndncollective.org/acknowledging-the-winter-solstice-is-a-decolonial-act-for-indigenous-people/).

Episode 35: 2020: For the Birds

Independent filmmaker Brooklyn Demme joins Amirah to discuss his documentary film "The Place Where People Gather" (Akuy Eenda Maawehlaang) which witnesses the Ramapough-Lenape Nation's struggle to gather as a community and pray on their own land in the face of legal & financial abuse at the hands of the township of Mahwah, NJ and a private home-owner's association called the Polo Club.
Brooklyn discusses the film's inspiration and origins; grieving the loss of his father, Jonathan, who was collaborating with him to create this film; the challenges of documentary filmmaking in activist work and in general; bringing intention and spirituality into one's work; and more.
Screenings of "The Place Where People Gather" will be held on Sunday February 16 at 2pm at the Bartow-Pell Mansion (near Pelham Bay Park), Wednesday February 19 at 2pm at the New City Library, and Saturday March 29 at 2pm at Ramapo College. The film is about half an hour long and can be viewed online at https://vimeo.com/348893544/92fd6f0b8b. If you would like to contact Brooklyn to organize a screening of "The Place Where People Gather" email him at brooklyn.j.demme@gmail.com.

Episode 34: "The Place Where People Gather" with Brooklyn Demme

Amirah sits down with recording artist and Community of Living Traditions member Warren Cooper to play one-on-one. In their conversation they discuss Warren's latest musical release "(Let's Bring) Christmastime 2 Creation," how Amirah experiences the Christmas season as a Muslim, work as a spiritual practice/act of worship, how the children in the Community of Living Traditions are influencing Warren's music, what farmers do during winter, and some of Warren's favorite Christmas music growing up. To support Warren's release of Christmastime 2 Creation, visit www.RadRevRecords.com and register for the "Do the Download: Save the Planet" Campaign...and actually download the record on iTunes, Google Play, or Spotify on Sunday December 15! You can also check out a message from Warren here: https://youtu.be/40dD2dEF5DQ

Episode 33: Christmastime 2 Creation: One-on-One with Warren Cooper

Amirah and Will chat about putting the fields to bed for the year and look back on the 2019 farming season. They share memories, accomplishments, and non-accomplishments related to the Keesler farm, lettuce production, sweet corn, and shiitake mushrooms. Finally, they discuss the significance of a memorable encounter with a deer and a blue heron near the creek at Keesler.

Episode 32: That's a Wrap

Amirah and Will welcome Amirah's long-time friend and Faith in Farming's most devoted listener Ariana Thelen to the podcast for a conversation about Halloween and a couple of essays by Robin Wall Kimmerer. They explore Halloween as a religious holiday and modern-day cultural experience before reflecting on two essays in Braiding Sweetgrass: Windigo Footprints and The Honorable Harvest. Along the way, Ariana shares a great story about an encounter her father had with a Windigo.

Episode 31: Happy Halloween with Ariana Thelen

In this special bilingual episode, Costa Rican farmer and activist Erlinda Quesada joins Will to talk about her work fighting for eco-justice with communities throughout her home land. She outlines the circumstances that led to the expansion of industrial pineapple production in Costa Rica, her interactions with Costa Rican government officials, and how contaminated water and agro-chemicals are affecting people and land in Costa Rica. Erlinda works with the Presbyterian Church (USA)'s International Peacemaking Program. Special thanks to Karla Koll for interpreting. To learn more about the industrial pineapple industry, Erlinda and Karla recommend watching this 20-minute documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsI2HAmEFcw

Episode 30: Pineapples and Eco-Justice with Erlinda Quesada

Amirah and Will revive an old tradition and play one-on-one for the first time in a long time. Their conversation includes Amirah's recent opportunity to participate in a zabiha slaughter at Halal Pastures, Will's learnings from his now 2-year-old daughter, the influence of being in indigenous spaces on their faith practices, reflections on last year's fall equinox ceremony, and what this year's theme song should be. It's a long one...enjoy!

Episode 29: The Return of One-on-One

Amirah and Will sit down for a conversation about their respective weeks. Amirah shares about celebrating Eid with her family in Wisconsin and gives some context for the holiday while Will reflects on the difficulty of his week while trying to process the recent shootings in his hometown of El Paso, Texas. Together they contemplate the 7 'disasters of the heart' and try to remember how many tomato sandwiches they've each eaten this season.

Episode 28: Eid Week & the Disasters of the Heart

Amirah and Will take another break from the heat to have a conversation about all of the farm-related sharing that is happening in their lives: sharing harvests, sharing work, sharing recipes, sharing meals, and the gifts others have shared with them in this season.

Episode 27: Season of Sharing

Amirah and Will take a break from the heat to talk about this season's bumper crop of zucchini. They share zucchini memories and reflections which leads to a discussion about feeling proud of their accomplishments and what their religious traditions have to say about pride.

Episode 26: Zucchini Summers

Amirah and Will sit down for a conversation on the Summer Solstice which this year marks their transition into the harvest season. They share about what's been keeping them busy on these long days, the creatures they've encountered along the way, and a variety of delicious ways to eat salad. And they remind everyone that it's never too early to get your tickets for the Stony Point Center Farm-to-Table Gala, happening this year on Sunday September 22, at https://stonypointcenter.org/gala.

Episode 25: Summer Solstice Salads

Amirah and Will welcome their friend Roger to the podcast to reflect on his month farming with them at Stony Point Center throughout his observance of the holy month of Ramadan. They talk about fasting, not fasting, solidarity fasting, solidarity giving, water, and, of course, rocks...and much more. Ramadan solidarity giving? Here are some ideas: https://www.cgdcny.org/give and https://give.irusa.org/campaign/mpf-for-palestine/c233574.

Episode 24: Ramadan of Rocks, Ramadan with Roger

Maggie Nowak (the farmer formerly known as Maggie Krueger) joins Amirah and Will to talk about her experiences participating in Stony Point Center's Farm the Land, Grow the Spirit Summer Institute program and her work now with Southside Community Land Trust in Providence, RI. Their conversation touches on the process of becoming a farmer, arguments they had in 2015 about killing groundhogs, bringing your faith tradition into a non-religious work space, rocks, racial justice, and the holy month of Ramadan...because it's Ramadan.

Episode 23: Summer Institute Reminiscing & Farming Now with Maggie Nowak

Amirah and Will play a little one-on-one for old times' sake. It's Ramadan and things are busy at the new farm. They share about their experiences during this holy time, new farm friends, learning with the Keesler land, and what it's like to shop for farm stuff.

Episode 22: Ramadan 2019 & the Keesler Lean

Long-time Stony Point Center farmer Matt Zeltzer joins Amirah and Will to talk about the arrival of spring. Their conversation covers erratic spring weather, distinguishing between winds and breezes, songs about wind, their relationships to rocks, and much more. With Passover, Easter, and Ramadan on the horizon, Matt, Will, and Amirah share some reflections about how these holy times are connected to spring for each of them this season.

Episode 21: Spring in our Step

Former Summer Institute participant Leanna Mulvihill drops by Stony Point Center Farm to chat with Amirah and Will. Leanna shares about her transition from livestock farmer to grad school student, her farm-related research, what she misses (and doesn't miss about farming), and the geography of Roosevelt Island. She also talks about her experiences in Stony Point Center's Farm the Land, Grow the Spirit Summer Institute program (learn more at stonypointcenter.org/summer-institute) and the power of home-cooked meals.

Episode 20: Reunion!

Special guest Sarah Henkel joins Amirah and Will to celebrate the arrival of Amirah's niece into the world and the recent decision by Hudson River Presbytery to give land and former church buildings in Stony Point, NY to the Sweetwater Cultural Center, a project envisioned by Chief Dwaine Perry of the Ramapough Lunaape Nation. Then they all join in a conversation about children's books: which ones thetheythey love and why and which ones don't. And in case anyone is wondering, Sarah is a member of the Community of Living Traditions at Stony Point Center, a Presbyterian pastor, a dear friend of Amirah's, and married to Will.

Episode 19: J is for Justice!

Drip, drip, drip...Amirah and Will are so excited about maple season. In this episode they have a conversation about all things maple at Stony Point Center: sap, syrup, ceremony, keeping the fire burning and much more.

Faith in Farming

Faith in Farming

Get Started

Download the App